In the past few years, it has been hard not to notice just how obsessed Hollywood has become with remakes. Steven Soderbergh’s update of the 1960 Rat Pack original “Ocean’s Eleven” stood out from the crowd. Soderbergh and an all-star cast, crafted a heist film that was clever and boisterous. Given the worldwide success of that remake, a sequel seemed like an inevitable prospect.

Picking up three years after the successful Bellagio heist, Danny Ocean (George Clooney) and his team of thieves are all enjoying the good life in different parts of the world. But when Bellagio owner Terry Benedict (Andy Garcia) comes knocking on all their doors demanding his money back — complete with interest — within two weeks, the group reunites to pull off three schemes in Europe. Adding to their troubles is a Europol agent (Catherine Zeta-Jones) who was once romantically involved with Ocean’s right-hand man Rusty (Brad Pitt), and a smarmy, mysterious thief known as The Night Fox (Vincent Cassel, “Brotherhood Of The Wolf”) who challenges Ocean to a thieving contest.

It shouldn’t come as any surprise that “Ocean’s Twelve” feels like a rush job. Shot this summer using an existing script by George Nolfi that was tailored for the production, “Ocean’s Twelve” comes across as yet another pointless sequel, but with an extra dose of smugness. A few moments entertain, but as a whole the film is not markedly amusing. When it comes to plot, the first movie wisely made the central heist a filling main course, but the smaller heists in this sequel are easy-to-devour side dishes that do nothing to fill up the appetite.

Unfortunately, Soderbergh disappoints again. He crams in enough conflict and characters for two movies and haphazardly loses the film’s focus. The film’s final half-hour becomes especially convoluted and over the top. Soderbergh clearly intends to make the movie a race against time, but much of the thrill involving the countdown is undermined because Benedict’s presence is not really felt in the story. Brief conversations about how much time is left to raise the money they owe is a cheap way of showing that there is trouble at hand.

In the sequel, most of the 11 are reduced to mere cameo roles and aren’t really given anything to do (the lack of Bernie Mac is certainly a serious mistake). Not that the characters were three-dimensional to begin with, but with the exception of giving Rusty a love interest, nothing new is brought to the rest of the players this time around. In fact, the first film is required viewing for those who actually want to know more about the characters. Barely any of their specific traits or quirky personalities get a chance to shine through in the sequel. Also flawed is an inside joke involving Julia Roberts, which is cute at first but becomes rather tiresome.

Early on in “Ocean’s Twelve,” actor Topher Grace (“That 70s Show”) — once again playing an obnoxious facsimile of himself — remarks to Rusty that he “totally phoned in” a movie role. The piece of dialogue is rather ironic, as Grace flawlessly sums up what Soderbergh, Clooney and company have done with this follow-up. Hopefully, the principles of the production are triskaidekaphobic (fear of the number 13) — making an “Ocean’s Thirteen” is certainly a job they wouldn’t be able to pull off.

Rating:  2.5 out of 5 stars